Posts by Maureen

About Maureen


Kerrygold Irish Cream Shake

Oh, what a day. Three sick kids. One kid not cooperating. One baby up at 3:58 am (which means that I was up at 3:58 am). One sick babysitter who we all love and depend upon. A daunting to-do list that never seems to shorten. Worst of all, my grandma is so sick and her […]


#BoozyBaking: Bourbon Shortbread with Mascarpone and Cherries

I was recently asked by my friends at Maker’s Mark to create a holiday dessert recipe sure to wow a dinner party. After thinking about it for a while, I took inspiration from mixologist Pamela Wiznitzer‘s recipe for an Old Fashioned. She uses REAL maraschino cherries – none of that supermarket junk with corn syrup […]


Sick Day

It is late on a Sunday night, and this is the first time in four days that I’ve had a moment to catch my breath and sit with my thoughts. It has been a long weekend – both literally and figuratively. Mack left school early on Thursday with complaints of a cough and general ickiness. […]


The Maureen Special

So much of what I write about revolves around my kids and what we do to keep them happy, busy and healthy.  I take the business of raising my kids quite seriously, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t like to get out and have a good time without the little rugrats every now and […]


Day 3

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, we are ready to jump into the Christmas season. I am more tired that I’ve ever been in my life, but I’m willing to rally for the kids to make it a fun month for all of us. One of the easiest ways for me to share the cheer […]


Reason #87 Why I HATE Plastic Bags

It is no secret that I am a little nuts about plastic. As I’ve said before, unless it is delivering medicine via an IV line or protecting my kids head as a bicycle helmet, all our plastic use is totally, totally out of control.  We abuse, misuse and overuse this modern innovation to a sickening […]


Cinnamon-Vanilla Scented Oatmeal (and Donuts)

I have given up the fight. I am raising the white flag. I am surrendering. I am never ever going to get a good night’s sleep again. At nearly 9 months of age, little Ben still won’t sleep through the night. I guess the little stinker likes his 11:30 pm and 2:00 am and 4:15 […]


Thanksgiving Craft Time

We are hosting Thanksgiving at our home in a couple days. We have never hosted a holiday before – our city home just isn’t big enough to accommodate our large extended family.  But, this year some of my sisters are with their in-laws, so the “smaller” crowd of eight adults and six kids can squeeze […]


Chicken Fricassee

With four kids, getting dinner on the table can be a real struggle. Someone always needs my attention, and I can’t watch the stove while I’m helping with homework or kissing a boo-boo or snuggling a tired two year old. Lately, on the days I am home I try to prepare dinner in the late […]


Playing Hooky

Last Sunday night Mack couldn’t fall asleep. An hour after we tucked him into bed, he tiptoed downstairs and crawled onto the sofa with Chris and me.  He is normally so busy and active and rambunctious, so to have him snuggle quietly with us for an hour felt like such a treat. It was 10 […]